Lifting device



March 10, 1970 Filed June 25, 1968 J. H. KRUSE LIFTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10,1970 VJ.H.KRVVIQJSE 3,499,548

'LIFTI NG DEVICE Filed June '25, 1968 I 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR. Jabn H Muse stlv United States Patent 3,499,548 LIFTING DEVICE John H. Kruse, 9219 Philadelphia Road, Baltimore, Md. 21206 Filed June 25, 1968, Ser. No. 739,744 Int. Cl. B66c 1/16 US. Cl. 214-1 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A principle for handling of various shaped objects including elongated square, round, etc., having a pair of plate-like members engageable with the opposite ends or sides of such objects, which primarily consist of two plate-like members having cables passing from the first plate to the second plate through guide pulleys, etc., then back to the first plate where it is anchored, wherein the arrangement is placed bilaterally of the object to be handled so that when a pull is exerted to the said cable the plates are moved toward each other and against the object for gripping and securing the same.

This invention relates to handling devices especially devices for handling elongated objects such as poles, columns and the like.

It is one object to provide such a device which will readily enable a long object to be lifted and manipulated from a horizontal to a vertical position.

It is another object to provide such a device which will substantially automatically accomplish both of the above functions with a simple vertical lifting pull.

To accomplish the above mentioned functions applicant has provided two plate-like members adapted to be positioned against the ends of the elongated object and a cable so connected between the plate-like members that a pulling effort applied to the cable will not only draw the plate-like members toward each other to securely clamp and hold the elongated object therebetween, but will also serve to shift the same from a horizontal to a vertical position.

The above and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this description proceeds and reference is bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device according to my invention shown holding a column in vertical position; 7

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing the same engaging a column in horizontal position, prior to its being raised;

FIGURE 3 is a view from one end looking from the right of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower clamping plate of the device with a column thereon positioned over a footing of a building; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, and particularly to FIGURES l to 4 thereof, represents a rectangular base plate having a reinforcing flange 11 along thereof its sides. As may be seen, this flange is positioned slightly inwardly of the outer edges of the base plate on two opposite sides. At about the midpoint on these two opposite sides, short flanges 12 extend upwardly from the edges thereof and lie parallel with the flange 11. A pair of pulleys 13 are rotatably mounted between the flanges 11 and 12.

The corners of the base plate adjacent the side which is free of the flange 11 are notched at 14 to provide "ice spaces for rollers 15 which are rotatably mounted on bearings attached to flange 11.

A large notch or slot 16 extends inwardly from the edge of the base plate not provided with the flange 11.

The device further consists of an upper plate 20 similar in size to base plate 10 and is provided with a reinforcing flange 21 similar to flange 11 on base plate 10.

A pair of pulley supporting means 22 are mounted on opposite sides of the upper plate and rotatably carry pulleys 23.

Adjacent the pulleys 23 the upper plate is provided with cable clamping devices 24 and angle members 25 are welded or otherwise secured to the upper flat surface of the upper plate 20 and serve to reinforce the same and also serve to form cable holding devices as hereinafter more fully set forth.

A cable 26 completes the device. This cable is fastened adjacent its ends to the clamping devices 24 on the opposite sides of the upper plate, from whence it extends to the base plate and is passed over the pulleys 13 thereon, then back to the guide and pulleys 23 on the upper plate and forms a loop above the upper plate. A pulley 27 and hoist hook 28 form a support for the loop whereby the device and load carried thereby may be lifted.

One or more stop members 29 may be clamped to the cable portion extending between the pulleys 13 and 23 to limit the extent that the upper clamping plate may approach the base plate when the device is not carrying a load.

The clamping devices 24 and the stops 29 may take any convenient form, for instance, metal blocks with holes for passage of the cable and set screws for clamping the blocks to the cable, or they may be made in half blocks with bolts for clamping the half blocks around the cable.

The angle members 25 on the upper plate not only serve to reinforce the upper plate but form convenient ledges under which any excess cable ends may be tucked as shown in FIG. 1.

The device is of particular use in handling and setting precast concrete columns. As may be seen in FIG. 2, C represents such a column lying horizontally the position it would probably be in after having been delivered to a construction site. The upper clamping plate and base plate are postioned against opposite ends of the column with the wheels 15 in a position adjacent the ground. As upward pull is applied to the cable 26, as shown by the arrow a in FIGURE 2, the end plates will first be drawn tightly against the ends of the column to grip the same. As the upward pull is continued the left end of the column will first be lifted upwardly and the wheels will begin to roll the right end of the column toward the left as indicated by arrow b. This action will continue until the column is in vertical position whereupon it can be readily positioned over a footing or base 1. In the particular column shown a bushing 30 has been cast centrally of the bottom thereof to form a socket, while the footing f has been provided with a cast in bolt to form a guide pin to fit into the socket when the column is properly positioned over the footing. A nut 32 on the bolt affords accurate vertical adjustment of the column on the footing and facilitates removal of the base plate 10 by moving the same laterally as can be readily understood. The space under the column between the same and the footing is then filled in with concrete as the final step in setting the column.

The modification shown in FIGURE 5 is similar to that of FIGURES 1 to 4 except that it is designed primarily for simultaneously lifting a plurality of elongated objects without shifting them from horizontal to vertical position. The upper plate 20 is similar to plate 20 of the first modification except that it is longer and is provided with two cable clamps 24' and pulleys 23' on each side of the same. Like the first form angle members 25' are secured thereto to reinforce the same and form holders for excess cable.

In place of the lower plate of the first modification a cradle-like structure is used. This structure consists of two spaced plate 40 and 41 forming side members and cross members 42 and 43 extending transversely between the side members and fastened thereto. Pulleys 44 are journaled between plates 40* and 41.

In this form two cables 26' are arranged between the upper plate and the cradle in exactly the same manner as the single cable in the first form and each cable loop has an upper pulley 27' thereon. Each pulley 27' is provided with a suspension hook 28' and both hooks suspended on a single suspension means 45 and 46. Stop means 29' functioning like the stop means 29 in the first form are also provided.

It may be readily seen that lifting effort applied to the suspension means 45, 46 will cause both ends of the upper plate and cradle to simultaneously grip the load L and hold it securely for handling.

I claim:

1. A device for handling elongated objects comprising:

(a) an upper plate and a base plate, said plates adapted to be positioned against the ends of an elongated object;

(b) said upper plate having a cable anchoring means at each side thereof;

(c) a pulley rotatably mounted on each side of said upper plate;

(d) a pulley rotatably mounted on each side of said base plate;

(e) a cable having its end portions fastened to said cable anchoring means on said upper plate, extending toward said base plate and around said pulleys on said base plate, and thence back toward said upper plate, the mid portion of said cable forming a loop above said upper plate;

(f) an attachment means for a hoist having a pulley suspended therefrom, said loop passing over said last named pulley;

(g) a cut-out portion in said base extending inwardly from one edge thereof and being parallel to the axis of the last named pulley. 2. A device for handling elongated objects comprising: (a) an upper plate and a base plate, said plates adapted to be positioned against the ends of an elongated.

object;

(b) said upper plate having a cable anchoring means at each side thereof;

(c) a pulley rotatably mounted on each side of said upper plate;

((1) a pulley rotatably mounted on each side of said base plate;

(e) a cable having its end portions fastened to said cable anchoring means on said upper plate, extending toward said base plate and around said pulleys on said base plate, and thence back toward said upper plate and over said pulleys on said upper plate, the mid portion of said cable forming a loop above said upper plate;

(f) an attachment means for a hoist having a pulley suspended therefrom, said loop passing over said last named pulley;

(g) a pair of wheels mounted on said base plate at two adjacent corners thereof;

(h) a cut-out portion in said base plate extending inwardly from one edge thereof between the corners having the wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,274,307 7/1918 Moller. 2,226,294 12/1940 Erickson.

2,717,801 9/1955 Neil.

FOREIGN PATENTS 796,749 6/ 1958 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

